Prayer November Edition

Hey friends and family! 

I just want to give you all an amazing opportunity to join me in prayer for a few things going on here in Mexico!

I am involved in a ministry here called The Well- which is a home for young women rescued from the sex trafficking industry. Once a week, I have the opportunity to go and teach a music class for an hour and spend time with the girls. 

I invite you to pray for these young girls that they would see God as a father figure that is protective and trustworthy. You can pray that their little hearts would open up to hear the word of God and to take steps forward in their new lives, freed from this horrible industry. You can also pray for Carmen, the woman who is the director of the home. 

Another amazing opportunity you have to pray is for an English club called CUR that I help out with on Fridays. CUR (which I have no idea what that stands for) is a Christian ministry which gives English classes for free at UNAM (one of the huge universities in the city) twice a week and has a bible study once a week. Lots of non-christians attend this club, because it is a free opportunity for them to practice their English. I have been meeting some awesome people through this club I would love for you to pray that God gives me the wisdom and opportunity to share the gospel with these friends as the time comes.

You can also pray for my church and my pastor as we continue to grow and serve God in the community! 

It would also be amazing for you to pray for me and that I would be open and willing to do what God calls me to everyday. Pray for energy and good time management and that I would take hold of every amazing opportunity that God gives me!

Thank you for your prayers and support, friends!
Until next time,

Kaylie   

El Día De Los Muertos

My mom sent me a text last night that read "What do people do in Mexico City on Halloween?"

I immediately felt overwhelmed by this question and I still haven't replied to her message.

(sorry mom, I'm writing you a blog post instead)

What do Mexicans do for Halloween. Good question, mom. Great question actually. 

First off, I would like to clarify that I am not Mexican (if that wasn't already incredibly obvious). And for me to explain Mexican traditions feels to me like a dog trying to explain what it's like to be a cat. Or like Santa Clause explaining what it's like to be the SuperMan. I can explain what I have observed here but this part of the culture will never be apart of me like it is for many Mexicans. 

Second. In Mexico, there is Halloween and there is El Día De Los Muertos. And they are different. Halloween is October 31st (samesies) and the Day of the Dead is November 1st and 2nd. 

As a Northern North American, when I think of Halloween, I think of my family, favorite friends, trick or treating, watching The Nightmare Before Christmas, and eating candy. I think of the most clever costumes I have seen people wear and the inevitably cliché costumes that more than 50% of the kids are dressed up as each year. 

And if I ever saw someone dressed up as something scary, it was my opinion that it was because they weren't creative enough to think of something cool. 

Never in my childhood have I thought of Halloween and at the same time thought of death, or dead relatives, or really anything other than my favorite candy. Which are gummy life savers and swedish fish, for the record.

ahem. 

Here in Mexico, this time of year is much different than my childhood experiences with Halloween. Although, many of the Halloween traditions that we see in the States are "practiced" during this time. You know, trick or treating and all that. 

But here is the difference that I have observed with Halloween. 

It is less of a celebration of how much candy you can get and more of a celebration of death.

Now, the Day of the Dead is another thing in itself. This day focuses on remembering the dead- those who have passed on to another life. People (and by people, I mean like almost everyone minus most christians) put up what are called ofrendas (which are essentially altars) in there homes to honor their loved ones. 

Here's a picture of a typical ofrenda which, to be honest, I just googled so I have no idea who that lady is. 

These ofrendas are adorned with flowers, candles, skulls made out of sugar and with food and drinks that the deceased enjoyed during their life. The traditional belief is that during these days of the dead, those who have passed away can revisit earth in the form of a spirit and that they eat and drink the what was left for them on the altar. 

One of the iconic symbols of this day is this chick and pretty much any image or costume that resembles this:

Tons of people dress up like this and it scares the crap out of me. 

El Día De Los Muertos is a very unique tradition and I was happy to be able to be here in Mexico during this time of year to see what it's like.
This time of year (although now it's over- bad blog updater award) is a great opportunity for us to pray for Mexico. Pray that there will be a great revival, a great revolution of the name of Jesus Christ rather than the name of death and the destruction that comes along with celebrating it.
Well, thanks for checking in, folks. I am alive and well here in DF.
Still stumbling along with my Spanish like a drunken sailor, but I'm alive and well. 

If you want find me, I'll be out celebrating the LIFE that Christ has given me. 
None of that death business.